Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 2-18-22

Health
An upset stomach can be caused by the simplest of things.
You could be dealing with the issue because of something you ate or the fact that you haven’t been eating properly.
While the symptoms might be distressing, they are rarely life- threatening.
The good thing is that you can feel much better with just a few items that are in your kitchen.
1. Chamomile Tea
This tea works for an upset stomach because chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties. Drinking it will alleviate the mus- cle spasms that typically cause some of the painful symptoms.
2. Mint
Both spearmint and peppermint have been shown to work well on bloat- ing, pain, nausea, and intestinal spasms that come with an upset stom- ach. Smelling the extract or chewing the leaves can also be helpful.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
While not the easiest remedy to swallow, a little apple cider vinegar can do wonders for your upset stomach. In this case, only a tablespoon of the liquid will be enough to free up the starch in your stomach to soothe the irri- tated intestines.
If you can’t handle the vine- gar by itself, diluting it with a cup of vinegar and a teaspoon of honey usually works.
5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains powerful antioxidants such as eugenol, cin- namaldehyde, linalool, and cam- phor. These antioxidants can help to reduce irritation in the stomach and improve digestion. Other components in the spice have been known to reduce bloating, cramping, indigestion, and heart- burn. Cinnamon sticks or the powder can be used to make tea but if you’re up to eating, a tea- spoon of the spice in some food works well.
6. Basil
Basil contains eugenol and linoleic acid, among other help- ful substances. Eugenol can re- duce the amount of acid in the stomach, which is great for eas- ing the burn of an upset stomach. Linoleic acid, on the other hand, is an anti-inflammatory and works well to ease bloating and muscle cramps. When making tea from this herb, a half tea- spoon of the dried leaves is enough. If you’re up to eating, a few of the fresh leaves in a meal is recommended.
7. Diluted Lime Juice
A tablespoon of fresh lime or lemon juice in a cup of water and combined with a teaspoon of bak- ing soda can soothe an upset stomach. Studies show that the carbonic acid in baking soda can help to reduce bloating and indi- gestion. The citrus acids and nu- trients in lemons or limes also help to improve the efficiency of digestion.
Of course, there are a few things you should avoid while having an upset stomach as well. Alcohol, greasy foods, and milk- based products can make the symptoms worse.
3. Ginger
Ginger is a well-known anti- inflammatory that’s effective against nausea and an unsettled stomach.
More than likely you have gin- ger ale at your fingertips.
If you have the actual ginger root, that may be even better as you can cut it into thin slices to make some tea. In that case, the warm liquid can soothe your stomach as well.
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